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Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread!

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Chocolate Thunder

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2/8/2020 17924 miles

After some tribulation, I got my @ROCK HARD 4X4 front and rear LCA skids installed. The back were pretty quick and painless. I had some trouble and made a few mistakes on the front ones (chronicled in this thread). It took longer than it should have but in the end I’m happy with them. These things are solid and heavy. The next time I go wheeling maybe I’ll see how well they hold up. I usually do easy stuff that doesn’t bang or scrape my belly for fear of damaging something.

Rear before
EA593C61-FF6A-43D3-A414-2E5685FC77E4.jpeg



Rear after
32A439FB-D2AA-4665-ABDD-B6F7195D472E.jpeg



Front during installation
DE9290E9-2870-4F22-BE4A-672C1E3BA3B6.jpeg


0EB14AFB-2CBF-40C0-9EDB-DF30D019A34D.jpeg


6FF017A7-1692-4A33-B5D9-0812EBCE2FA1.jpeg


FD331406-924D-40F3-B869-A541A5F4C71C.jpeg
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DanW

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Nice! I'm like you, I don't go looking for trouble, but sometimes it finds the bottom of my Jeep, so having some beefy protection on key parts like that is a great idea!
 
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While underneath the front end installing the LCA skids I discovered where a noise was coming from. Sometimes at full steering lock I’d feel and heard a noise. I wasn’t sure what it was other than it is definitely wheel/suspension related. Well I know what it is now.



The SteerSmarts front sway bar end links are rubbing the inner wall of my tires at full lock. More so on the driver side than passenger. Not a lot, but you can see how much.

D54F0E15-3A0C-4FF2-A7D7-4F467A1A43DA.jpeg


1760AF3F-462A-44BF-93E3-7209E9E1889A.jpeg


1D67B85B-B437-4120-84C5-9531EB0391B5.jpeg


I figure my options are 1) revert to stock sway bar links, 2) revert to stock sized 285/70/17 tires from the 315/70/17 that I have now, or 3) buy different wheels that have less positive offset and throw 37s on them while I’m at it. What do you think? I know which one I’m voting for. Lol.
 

Karl_in_Chicago

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Well it sounds like you have your mind made up but there is a 4th option - spacers to move the wheels out.
 
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Well it sounds like you have your mind made up but there is a 4th option - spacers to move the wheels out.
I hate wheel spacers. The only ones I’m aware of for the JL are way thicker than I’d ever consider. I’m not a fan of wheels poked out so far they look like old fashioned roller skates.
 

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I hate wheel spacers. The only ones I’m aware of for the JL are way thicker than I’d ever consider. I’m not a fan of wheels poked out so far they look like old fashioned roller skates.
Might send a question to this vendor and see if the holes are large enough for the JL 14mm studs vs. the JK 1/2" size (assuming you have an extra 1/4" thread on your studs to go out). This also assumes a 1/4" is enough to clear those bolt heads.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-pcs-Jeep...-Wrangler-Grand-Cherokee-Forged-/382415074460
FWIW I hate wheel spacers too :(
 

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I hate wheel spacers. The only ones I’m aware of for the JL are way thicker than I’d ever consider. I’m not a fan of wheels poked out so far they look like old fashioned roller skates.
5th option is to set the steering limits so it doesn't rub....
 
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5th option is to set the steering limits so it doesn't rub....
Good idea. Something I hadn’t thought of. That might be a good temporary option until I get the new wheels.
 

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While underneath the front end installing the LCA skids I discovered where a noise was coming from. Sometimes at full steering lock I’d feel and heard a noise. I wasn’t sure what it was other than it is definitely wheel/suspension related. Well I know what it is now.



The SteerSmarts front sway bar end links are rubbing the inner wall of my tires at full lock. More so on the driver side than passenger. Not a lot, but you can see how much.

D54F0E15-3A0C-4FF2-A7D7-4F467A1A43DA.jpeg


1760AF3F-462A-44BF-93E3-7209E9E1889A.jpeg


1D67B85B-B437-4120-84C5-9531EB0391B5.jpeg


I figure my options are 1) revert to stock sway bar links, 2) revert to stock sized 285/70/17 tires from the 315/70/17 that I have now, or 3) buy different wheels that have less positive offset and throw 37s on them while I’m at it. What do you think? I know which one I’m voting for. Lol.
I am running spacers on stock wheels. No problems and there don’t poke the wheels out too much. More like what I’d want if I went to aftermarket wheels with the offset I’d want...
image.jpg
 
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I am running spacers on stock wheels. No problems and there don’t poke the wheels out too much. More like what I’d want if I went to aftermarket wheels with the offset I’d want...
image.jpg
I hate spacers. Always have. I’ll throw some washers on the steering stops as a temporary measure until I get new wheels.
 

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I hate spacers. Always have. I’ll throw some washers on the steering stops as a temporary measure until I get new wheels.
Why do you have the spacers? We’re fixing to pull the set of Lindsay’s because we’re swapping wheels. I have grown to love and feel very comfortable with them on these JLs

Brett
 
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Why do you have the spacers? We’re fixing to pull the set of Lindsay’s because we’re swapping wheels. I have grown to love and feel very comfortable with them on these JLs

Brett
Coning from sports cars I didn’t like them then either. I feel that it’s important to get wheels with proper fitment for the vehicle rather than make the vehicle fit the wheels. Spacers introduce more potential points of failure. Many of them that I’m familiar with are poorly made. And they push the wheels out further which puts more stress on axle components by shifting the weight even further out.
 
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So I can’t tell if these will completely eliminate the interference at full lock or not, but here they are.

Before
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 7EC8228E-A88C-4E98-9693-F8FB30E04A7D


After
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! A4B1B42D-C1B9-49B7-A809-0188C1F616BB


FYI the bolt is 5/8” and the washers that fit best are M10.
 
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oceanblue2019

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Coning from sports cars I didn’t like them then either. I feel that it’s important to get wheels with proper fitment for the vehicle rather than make the vehicle fit the wheels. Spacers introduce more potential points of failure. Many of them that I’m familiar with are poorly made. And they push the wheels out further which puts more stress on axle components by shifting the weight even further out.
You make some good points, and some wrong points.

Good:

- Always need to be aware of more critical fasteners and spacers double the wheel/hub interface number of critical fasteners. But with proper torque specs, lock-tite and maintenance it's no issue.

- Crap parts are crap. Avoid crap parts. Buy good parts. Synergy and others make great spacers.

Wrong:

- Any wheel that pushes the tire outward for clearance will also put more stress on the hub as the wheel centerline is not inline with the hub due to different backspacing. This is exactly what the spacer does with the factory wheels.

- Also consider most factory wheels go under far more rigorous testing and development versus aftermarket wheels. Some exceptions like BBS and a couple others who do a ton of testing, but most aftermarket wheels are inferior to factory in both manufacturing process and engineering put into them. They are made to look cool and be cheap to produce. Anything made in China and not a major name brand should be avoided as many factories "forged" processes is more like a pressure-cast process. Also make sure proper certifications like TuV, etc, etc.
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